Minister Urges Mothers On Exclusive Breastfeeding

Minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Bunkure, has urged nursing mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding and ensure their babies get immunised against vaccine preventable disease.

The minister spoke on Monday at the Ayaura Comprehensive Primary Health Centre, Abaji in the FCT, where she welcomed the first babies of the year at the PHC.

The first babies (twins) of the year at the PHC, Muhammad and Ahamed Musa, who weighed 2.9kg and 2.8kg respectively, were born at 12.45 a.m. on January 1 to Mr.and Mrs Haruna Musa.

She said, “It is great to be in Abaji. The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, set the pace earlier today when she visited the National Hospital, Abuja, and we are here to replicate what she did at the grassroots.

“We are here in Abaji to receive our babies of the year, and this is part of inclusiveness in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the government.”

“I urge all mothers to feed very well, practise exclusive breastfeeding and take their children to the health centres for immunisation. This way, we will be able to fight vaccine-preventable diseases in the country.

On her part, the mandate secretary, Health Services and Environment of the FCT, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, also urged the mothers to adhere to health workers’ instructions and take antenatal and postnatal care seriously.

She said  “I encourage mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding because it plays a crucial role in the health, growth and development of the babies, and has benefits for the mothers.

“It is important that expectant mothers access antenatal care to prevent untoward complications.

“Just like antenatal care, postnatal care helps to promote healthy lifestyles, detect and prevent diseases, and reproductive health.”

Fasawe  expressed the government’s committed to improving the health and well-being of the residents in the territory and Nigerians at large.

Meanwhile, the Ona Abaji and chairman of the Council of Chiefs in Abuja, Dr. Adamu Yunusa, appealed to the government to ensure that the children in Abaji are also enrolled in schools to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country.